RICHMOND, B.C. – Going into Sunday’s matchup, the first for Delta at this year’s Winter Classic at Minoru Arena, the Delta Ice Hawks held a strong head-to-head record against the Abbotsford Pilots throughout the last few campaigns. In the last nine contests between the two airborne clubs, the closest the Pilots came to a win was earlier this season when they took the Hawks to overtime in Ladner on November 12th. Despite the late heroics that night from Cody Johnston, the Ice Hawks were victorious then, and again three nights later in Abbotsford.
Backed up once again by affiliate player Imaree Dhaliwal, Merik Erickson got the nod to start in net for Delta, facing Abbotsford’s netminder Jovan Dhillon for the second time this season. It did not take long for the Ice Hawks to introduce themselves, with captain Tye Hemenway scoring just 27 seconds into the first period. Before the first minute was in the books, Pilots leading scorer Connor Jarvis evened the score. Next to impact the scoresheet would be Pilots forward Lincoln Edwards with his first goal of the game to put Abbotsford up by one. Delta’s Beckett Cross scored next, assisted by Louie Sim for his first assist of the season, to bring the game back to a tie. The onslaught of goals continued, with Delta’s Colin Jang collecting his 21st goal of the season (and first with Delta this year), trailed by Jarvis’ second of the game. The teams retreated to their dressing rooms tied 3-3, with Delta holding the advantage in shots on goal with 24 to Abbotsford’s nine.
Jarvis continued his strong play, completing the hat-trick effort in the early goings of the second period to give Abbotsford the lead once again, though it would be the final time they would lead over Delta in this match. Hemenway added another goal, supplemented by a late goal in the frame by Ryden Mathieson. A parade of penalties persisted through the period, capped off by Delta’s Marcus Bromhead being sent off on a five-minute major for checking to the head alongside a game misconduct just prior to Mathieson’s goal. The teams skated off with Delta ahead once again 5-4, tripling up on Abbotsford’s six shots in the period with 18 of their own.
Early in the third period, Delta was caught with too many players on the ice, leaving them short-handed as Abbotsford’s Hudson Koch provided the equalizer just 14 seconds in to their man-advantage. Delta’s Danylo Bereza re-established the Ice Hawks’ lead a couple minutes later, followed shortly thereafter by Edwards’ second goal to keep pace with Delta and tie the game at 6-all. The go-ahead goal was less than a minute away, as Bereza scored his second of the period to give Delta the lead once more. With Dhillon pulled from the Pilots’ net, Ice Hawks alternate captain and leading scorer Mateo Sjoberg put the puck into the empty net for his 33rd goal of the campaign and sealing in the win for Delta. In shots on goal in the third, Abbotsford kept pace with 15 shots to Delta’s 16, but the Hawks maintained dominance in the category, putting 58 total shots on net and scoring on eight of them. Dhillon made 50 saves in the loss, whilst Erickson stopped 24 in the win.
The Ice Hawks return to action on Tuesday morning for a 10:00 AM brunch date with the Aldergrove Kodiaks on December 31st at Minoru Arena to open the final day of the 2024 PJHL Winter Classic.
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PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Instead of three stars at the Winter Classic games, the organizers select one player of the game from each team to recognize for their efforts post-game.
• Abbotsford forward Connor Jarvis fueled his team’s offensive output with three goals, all coming in the first half of the game.
• Delta forward Danylo Bereza was clutch for his club, assisting on the opening goal and contributing two massive goals in the third period (including the game-winner).
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